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iPhone showing the iOS 26 logo, surrounded by Android phones.

Joe Maring/ Android Authority

Today’s iphone 26 statement certain was a weird one, had not been it? In between the debatable Liquid Glass redesign and the huge name jump from iOS 18 to iOS 26, this year’s apple iphone upgrade is currently confirming to be among one of the most strange we have actually seen in a while.

General reactions to iOS 26 have been a mixed bag until now, and with an upgrade this radical, that’s to be anticipated. However although not every little thing concerning Apple’s huge software application upgrade is a champion, there’s one element concerning it that’s still extremely undoubtedly far better than what we carry Android today.

It’s a story as old as time, however it stays relevant also in 2025. I’m discussing software application updates.

Are you pleased with the state of Android updates in 2025?

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iphone 26 is a tip of Apple’s upgrade preeminence

iOS 26 hands on app drawer

Dhruv Bhutani/ Android Authority

Since individuals have actually participated in Android vs. iphone disputes, software application updates are assured to be a disagreement for any individual safeguarding iphone– and truly so. Although Android has actually made considerable progression on this front in the last few years, Apple has actually been far better at it for longer and remains to show why it’s the most effective at updates all these years later on.

Take iphone 26 as one of the most current instance. The software application is presently readily available in a designer beta and will certainly be readily available as a public beta in July. Apple is targeting the succumb to the complete launch of iphone 26, most likely at some point in September.

iPhone 16 Pro rear hero

Ryan Haines/ Android Authority

This is a great timeline, however what’s significant concerning it is the amount of apples iphone are obtaining the upgrade, and– possibly extra significantly– the speed at which they’ll all be upgraded.

iphone 26 is undoubtedly involving more recent apples iphone, like the apple iphone 16 and apple iphone 15 collection, however that’s simply the pointer of the iceberg. apples iphone as old as the apple iphone 11 collection and more recent (plus the second generation apple iphone SE and more recent) are all sustained. For context, the apple iphone 11 collection will certainly be 6 years of ages come this September.

Every apple iphone– from the apple iphone 16 to the apple iphone 11– will certainly obtain iphone 26 at the same time.

Impressive? Definitely. A lot more remarkable is that, like all iphone updates, every apple iphone version will certainly obtain iphone 26 at the very same time. Unlike the majority of Android OEMs, Apple does not drag out its software application updates in waves, with more recent designs obtaining the upgrade initial and older ones doing the same a couple of weeks later on. As soon as iphone 26 launches, every apple iphone– from the apple iphone 16 to the apple iphone 11– obtains the brand-new software application at the same time.

This has actually been just one of Apple’s biggest toughness for many years, and as enhanced as Android might be contrasted to a couple of years earlier, it still can not match the well-oiled device that is an iphone rollout.

Android updates are still made complex and unpleasant

Android 16 logo on smartphone 08

Edgar Cervantes/ Android Authority

Exactly How so? The other day’s launch of Android 16 is an excellent comparison to iphone 26. Since June 10, the steady variation of Android 16 is currently readily available for all Google Pixel phones varying from the Pixel 6 collection as much as the Pixel 9 household. Externally, and for Pixel proprietors, that’s terrific. However it does not take lengthy to see just how the globe of Android updates still hangs back iphone.

Although Google’s seven-year upgrade plan has actually been a terrific enhancement because the business presented it with the Pixel 6 collection, older Pixels are still losing out on brand-new software application in such a way older apples iphone are not. Where iphone 26 works with apples iphone that are 6 years of ages, Android 16 is just sustained for Pixels that will certainly be 4 years of ages this loss.

This inconsistency will certainly function itself out in a number of years, however Apple’s longer dedication to long-lasting updates is still being really felt today. Your six-year-old apple iphone will certainly obtain the most recent iphone upgrade while your six-year-old Pixel will not obtain the most recent Android upgrade, and while that might not be completion of the globe, it still does not really feel excellent.

A Samsung Galaxy S25 running the One UI 8 beta.

Joe Maring/ Android Authority

In Addition, this is to claim absolutely nothing concerning the timing of Android 16’s launch for various other, non-Pixel Android phones. Google’s phones have the upgrade today, however what concerning phones from Samsung, Absolutely Nothing, OnePlus, Motorola, and others?

As is constantly the situation with Android updates, we’ll be waiting a couple of even more weeks (and, in many cases, months) prior to Samsung and various other business begin launching Android 16 for their tools. And from there, makers additionally lengthen points by sending Android OS upgrades in waves. Samsung’s Galaxy S25 series will certainly be amongst the initial Samsung phones to get Android 16/One UI 8, however you can anticipate to wait longer for the upgrade to show up on older designs.

An unresolvable trouble?

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, OnePlus 13, and Google Pixel 9a next to each other.

Joe Maring/ Android Authority

Certainly, several of these problems are an all-natural negative effects of Android’s open-source nature. Whereas Apple is the only business developing apples iphone and launching updates for them, numerous brand names are developing Android phones with personalized software application. It’s unreasonable to believe we’ll ever before reach a factor where an upgrade like Android 16 is amazingly readily available for each suitable Android phone on earth at the very same time.

iphone 26 is a tip that there’s still adequate job to be done.

However that’s not to claim there isn’t area for enhancement. When Samsung’s Android 16 upgrade prepares, there’s no factor the business should not have the ability to deliver it to every one of its sustained phones simultaneously, as opposed to dragging it out in waves. The timeliness and security of Android updates likewise have adequate area for enhancement (I’m looking at you, One UI 7 ), and Google’s newest approach of keeping its most considerable updates in Android 16 for its Android 16 QPR1 upgrade coming later on this year is unusual.

We have actually come a lengthy method with Android updates, however iphone 26 is a tip that there’s still adequate job to be done– and I really hope Google, Samsung, and every various other Android OEM are taking note.